Posted by Skep on July 24, 2011 at 20:23:50
In Reply to: Re: WOW! posted by Farmer on July 24, 2011 at 02:42:35:
Against popular belief, and being careful to allow for exceptions, I have found that some stereotyping is sometimes useful. In general, I see everybody first as humans but then as part of some group or community. As humans, I know all of us share some fundamental characteristics, good and bad. As members of a community, we also share some values and behaviors. This is true, even though to different degrees, but stereotypes are useful.
On the other side, the exceptions are very powerful because we are individuals. Is Germany to blame of something? I think this is a question that politicians would ask. I wouldn't put it that way because I don't believe that is the right question. Some Germans at some time may be guilty of some things but those who have suffered from those things have the right to lump all of the Germans together and work to prevent that all of those Germans blindly accept and follow bad advice again.
This is also true for TFI, we left because of the things that were going on there. We saw with horror the evils that those decisions and leadership of Berg and his group caused. Many of us were crushed by their ambitions. As a result we left. Many stayed but we suffered and observed and are observing. We are aware that the same horrors could happen again, and we are doing our part to warn the world about it.
I think the parallel is clear, stereotypes as very useful to understand members of TFI now as having the potential to be sucked into another horrendous world, if it is true that they are free from the horrors that were. They may have removed some of the causes but the culture is there.
Germany? I don't know. I lived in Germany for a while, and I didn't like it. I am of a very different temperament but it is okay for Germans. You are one and you should know. Just be aware that guilty or not of having initiated wars, Germans need to be aware of that past to avoid the resurgence of a Hitler just like TFI members would need to be aware of their own past to avoid another Berg.